MA Road Trip: Me and Highway 25

The first thing I need to do is thank Officer J. Hess, of Wyoming Highway Patrol, who stopped me for speeding somewhere just after Cheyenne, Wyo. He and his brown Mustang pulled me over to the side of the road, but he gave me a warning instead of a ticket, and for that I'm extremely grateful.

The view from a rest stop about 60 miles south of Casper, Wyo. (Kim O'Donnel)

"What brings you to Wyoming?" he asked me through the passenger window. Not a question that you'd think you'd hear from a cop. Then, "it's beautiful country you're going through. Not much in between towns, but some beautiful scenery." And just like that, my heart beating so fast it felt like it was popping out of my chest, he sped off in that brown Mustang and I was free to traverse I-25, the only road I'd take between Denver and Buffalo, Wyo., from where I type these words.

Officer Hess is right; there ain't much between towns, but Wyoming is unbelievably beautiful.

Before I crossed the state line, I had a late breakfast at Johnson's Corner, a truck stop that has been open continuously since 1952. In addition to its 24-hour diner, complete with two horseshoe-shaped counters, Johnson's Corner is a full-service shelter for truckers, complete with showers, AA meetings, a chapel, mini-mart and repair garage.

I didn't have room for one of their Texas-sized "world-famous cinnamon rolls," but I did polish off a breakfast burrito, a flour tortilla filled with scrambled eggs and smothered in green chili, the moderately spicy sauce that Coloradoans use as a condiment.

While waiting for my meal to arrive, I learned that on April 13, 1999, Johnson's Corner was recognized in the 106th Congressional Record for just being Johnson's. Pretty cool. I also learned that it was the location for "Larger Than Life," the 1996 movie about an elephant starring Bill Murray and Janeane Garofalo.

I'm sorry to eat and run, but I've got to dash before the juice on my laptop runs out. Next up: a report from Montana.

Comments

I live in Fort Collins. Just wanted to let you know that you didn't miss a lot by skipping the cinnamon roll. I think they are only famous for the size. The flavor and texture are not the best. For anyone else travelling through the region, a good cinnamon roll can be found at the Silver Grill in downtown Fort Collins. They are not as big but they taste a lot better.